Our Passionate Community
For the fourth and final blog post in our series for Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, we turned over the writing to the Chi family. We put out a brief, online questionnaire to ask the Chi community about what inclusion means to them and why it is important at Camp Chi. We were overwhelmed by thoughtful and heartfelt responses. People shared more than we could have ever dreamed. We chose two responses in each category (parent, camper, staff and alumni), but could have filled eight pages worth of comments.
What does inclusion at Camp Chi mean to you? Why is inclusion of campers with disabilities important?
Camp Chi Parents
Inclusion at Camp Chi means everyone is welcome. This isn’t only about disabled children being included, it means everyone – Jewish, Christian, African-American, Asian, Disabled, Abled – everyone! It is the most beautiful part of Camp Ch.
In the real world, we aren’t all the same. We are all different in some way shape or form. Our children need to understand that, appreciate that and learn from those who are different so they are able to empathize with them. The most special relationships I have seen through my daughter’s eyes are those she and her cabin mates have with a camper who has Down Syndrome, who has been a part of their group since they were young. They appreciate her differences and accept her for who she is and love her for those reasons. Sometimes I think they don’t even notice the differences any more. That is the way the world should be and unfortunately is not. If our kids, the next generation, can be exposed to difference among people in a positive way perhaps there is hope for our world.
-Jackie Kramer, Parent
Inclusion means Camp Chi has values that are in line with our family values. Those values include kindness, openness to people who are different than you, understanding, and an ability to learn from the people around you.
Inclusion at Camp Chi means that my children see and interact with people who you might not imagine would be at a “typical camp.” But it means that my children see that camp is for everyone – and that different kids and adults experience it is different ways. What an amazing addition to their summer camp experience.
Our children often live in very sheltered communities – they are surrounded by people who look a lot like them – often well-off white Jews. By including campers with disabilities into the Chi community, it means adding a diversity to the community that might not otherwise be there. It also means that while our children are learning about themselves, and gaining the independence that comes with going to sleep-away camp, they are also seeing that people different than themselves are also there, learning about themselves and gaining independence. It is much easier to connect and understand those that are different than you, when you are all having a blast together.
-Sarah Abella, Parent and Alumna
Camp Chi Campers
Inclusion at camp means an environment that not only allows for, but encourages, our acceptance of all different types of people. Camp is the only place I have been where children of all different abilities, backgrounds, and ages are able to interact without any boundaries or limitations. Kids with disabilities are involved in every single aspect at camp, so it feels completely natural to spend time together and interact with each other.
Inclusion of campers with disabilities is important to me because every single person you meet teaches you something different about yourself. For me, I spent over 3 summers in a cabin with a girl with disabilities, and I learned so much about my ability to be accepting and friendly, even if the situation did seem scary at first. I made a friend that summer that taught me so much about the values of kindness and selflessness. I have never seen another person be so open and loving to people so quickly, and I never would have been able to meet someone like that without camp.
-Jillian Korey, SIT ‘15
Inclusion at Camp Chi means having a person with special needs not only in your cabin’s activities, but in the cabin just as much as all of the other campers. Many camps have programs where the campers with special needs are in cabins with other kids with special needs and just go to their “regular” cabin’s activities. At Camp Chi, they are included fully which I find so special. My sister has special needs and I want her to be included and would never want her to feel left out, so I always include others so their families can feel amazing knowing their child is feeling included.
-Gabriella Cooperman, Camper
Camp Chi Staff
Inclusion of campers with disabilities is important to me because it taught me the value of friendship. No matter what disability a person has, they can still make a great friend to everyone. Interacting and befriending campers who had Keshet support at Camp Chi has affected my life not only at camp, but also at home. Because of my positive experiences at camp, I am now an active leader in the peer mentoring program at my school, which allows students to help students with disabilities in the classroom, but also forms relationships between students. It has influenced my career decision, which is to be a special education teacher. Camp Chi helped me find my passion of working with students who have disabilities.
-Dani Alper, Counselor
Inclusion is an invaluable part of Camp Chi. It is what makes being there so magical, as the community it helps create is unlike any other I have ever been a part of. It is what makes campers feel at home in a safe and accepting environment. I fully believe that being a part of Camp Chi’s inclusion program from such a young age is what gives Chi campers and staff the strength and ability to be the best that they can be.
-Kyle Kolling, Village Leader
Camp Chi Alumni
Working at Camp Chi was the first time I had ever really had a chance to get to know someone with a disability and work with campers who had disabilities. Even though I was nervous about how I could make her camping experience a positive one, I quickly realized that this camper was just as excited about being at camp as everyone else and as eager to participate as the other girls. I was also blown away by how the other campers were so quick to embrace her as a friend and bunkmate.
Having this experience at camp played such a huge role in my eventual career path as a special education teacher. Now I work with children with disabilities on a daily basis and have worked with my school administration to promote inclusion in the classroom.
-Stephanie Rosenbaum, Alumna
Inclusion to me means that every camper no matter their abilities gets to experience the same camp magic provided by Camp Chi. Inclusion of campers with disabilities in a cabin setting is one of the most pivotal developmental experiences that campers and the rest of their cabin mates can have. These experiences help teach young minds about acceptance, the concept of being different, and overall friendship.
-Zach Sandler, Alumnus
… And a Few More…
Inclusion is being included in everything, and basically not being excluded… Making sure all kids can come together with no hurt feelings and enjoy camp!
-Lillie Murphy, Camper
To me, inclusion at Camp Chi means everyone being included in every activity no matter what.
-Elana Redfern, Camper
Inclusion is close to my heart because I’ve seen how Camp Chi’s inclusion beliefs actually benefit the cabin group, the individual campers and the whole camp.
-Imogen Connett, Art Specialist
It’s important because it just is.
-Henry Tish, Avodah
Thank you to everyone who submitted responses. We are so proud and impressed by your passion.